THE ANTIRACIST KID

Jewell builds upon the foundation of her bestselling This Book Is Anti-Racist (2020) with a primer on anti-racism, intersectionality, and ways of effecting change.

Defining anti-racism as “the act of making a choice to be active and resist racism,” the author discusses racial identity, power, and activism, covering important vocabulary and concepts along the way. She incorporates age-appropriate language in rendering complex topics—such as privilege, intersectionality, and colonization—with clarity and precision, aided by buoyant graphics depicting a diverse group of children. “Putting It All Together” summaries at the end of each chapter reinforce key takeaways. The lessons highlight youth agency, awareness, and autonomy. Jewell makes it clear that she believes in readers: “You are a really good problem solver, and you can help us adults find ways to make the world a much better place to live in for everyone.” Her book offers a way for young people to learn about themselves and their communities, make careful distinctions between how they define themselves and how society may see them, and become champions for change as they combat prejudice and discrimination. Most importantly, she shows young people that this work is not meant to be done alone and encourages them to join a community of others working toward a more free and just world. Adults might just learn something, too—there are gems for everyone.

An instructive textbook for our time, illuminating the questions and community actions youth need to transform the world.